The head of the Red Mansion

As dawn broke, the soldiers guarding the West Gate opened the gate while still yawning, and early risers were already pushing carts, carrying loads, or visiting relatives with their families.

The day was no different from any other. The gatekeeper leaned against the city wall, just about to take a nap, when he saw several large carts carrying a bunch of people who were swaying and covered in blood coming this way.

Ouch~
All the soldiers stood at attention, and the gatekeeper stepped forward, taking a deep breath, and asked, "Who goes there?"

"I am Cheng Hongwen, the head of the Cheng family, the Marquis of Xinping."

Old Man Cheng looked disheveled, as if he had crawled out of a mud pit. His hair was askew, one of his sleeves was torn off, and his face was full of anger and resentment. "I'm going to take my family and sue the Ningguo Mansion, the Rongguo Mansion, and the Jia family for desecrating my ancestral graves and bullying my Manchu people."

By the end, he was hoarse and trembling all over.

Oops~
People entering and leaving the city couldn't help but stop and watch, forgetting their own affairs.

The men of the Cheng family on the cart were covered in bruises and blood, none of them were clean, and many were still groaning in pain.

This must be... a defeat in the graveyard!

But the Jia family...

The city gate official just received the wedding candy from the two families yesterday. The Cheng family made a big fuss, carrying thirty-six trays of betrothal gifts to the Jia family. How come things have changed so quickly?
He swallowed hard. "Please!"

Why would the Jia family dig up someone else's ancestral grave?

Although Princess Baofeng is no longer here, Marquis Xinping is still alive.

In any case, he was the Emperor Emeritus's grandson and the Emperor's nephew.

hiss~
Something big is going to happen!
He had just raised his hand to let them pass when he saw a dozen or so riders escorting a carriage coming this way.

The leader is someone he knows; isn't he Master Zhen from Ningguo Mansion?

"Jia Zhen!"

Enemies meeting are bound to be furious, and Chief Cheng looked like he wanted to devour him. "Even if you beat the petition drum, I will still sue you."

"That's a mistake."

Cheng Luo didn't want his in-laws to be misunderstood, so he lifted the carriage curtain and said in a hoarse voice, "Yesterday was an auspicious day. I asked my in-laws to help me move my mother's grave. What's wrong with that?"

"you you you……"

Old Man Cheng is going to be driven crazy by him.

"Cheng Luo, you are unfilial!"

From the carriage that followed, came Old Lady Cheng's hoarse voice, "Old Lady, I'm going to sue you."

"...Whatever you prefer."

Cheng Luo didn't care.

Let them sue!

Perfect timing! Let's strip him of his title of Marquis of Xinping! "Gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen! Aunts and grandmas!"

He stood on the carriage and bowed deeply to all the onlookers. “Yesterday was an auspicious day. It was the wedding day of me and the eldest daughter of the Jia family of Rongguo Mansion. Before my mother, Princess Baofeng, passed away, she was worried about my marriage. So, the night before the betrothal gifts were delivered, I went to my mother’s grave to talk to her and put her mind at ease. But once I started talking, I forgot about the time.”

At this point, Cheng Luo's eyes were already red, and his voice choked with emotion. "I dozed off in front of the grave, but I dreamt that my mother was crying sadly. That was the Cheng family's ancestral grave, and the Cheng family members, young and old, were bullying and humiliating her."

His tears fell in large drops. "I never agreed to my mother being buried in that ancestral grave. May I ask, clan elder, did you agree to it? Now I am moving my mother's grave to fulfill my filial duty. What are your intentions in preventing me from being filial to my mother?"

"You, you, you wretched child!"

Old Man Cheng was so angry he almost vomited blood. He wanted to say, "You are a member of the Cheng family," but as soon as he said that last night, Jia Zhu from the Jia family jumped out and started spouting nonsense about how the princess was the ruler and they were the subjects. He didn't even dare to invoke the family rules.

"You brought a bunch of outsiders and attacked my Cheng family..."

"Clan Chief Cheng!"

Jia Zhu said, "That's not right. How can it be that we beat up your Cheng family? It's clearly your Cheng family that's obstructing us from moving the grave, trying to disrupt the auspicious time, and secretly harming the princess. That's why we had no choice but to knock all those who were obstructing us to the ground."

He always persuades people with reason.

It's absolutely impossible to smear his family.

"Fellow villagers," Jia Zhu dismounted and cupped his hands in greeting, "Tell me, is this the fault of our Jia family?"

"..."

"..."

The villagers looked at each other.

A very thin woman stepped forward and said, "That's right!"

"Yes, yes, how can that be wrong? The auspicious time is so important, how can we disturb it?"

An elderly woman also stepped forward, saying, "If this gets damaged, your Cheng family will be the ones who suffer."

"Amitabha!"

The monks queuing to enter the city said, "What you say is very true, benefactor. The auspicious time for moving graves should not be disturbed."

"Everyone!"

Seeing that something was amiss, an elder from the Cheng family quickly stepped forward. “Of course, the auspicious time should not be violated, but how can a junior in any family decide to relocate ancestral graves on such a major occasion? Have you even considered the feng shui? Have you checked the auspicious day? Have you investigated whether it clashes with the elders’ wishes?”

He was also very angry.

His beard had been ripped out by some bastard, drawing blood, and his chin was still throbbing with pain. "The Jia family didn't ask any questions, they just came to my Cheng family's ancestral graves and forcibly moved the graves..."

"Uncle, there's no need to say anything more."

Seeing that more and more people were entering and leaving the city, and that the city gate was about to be blocked, Cheng Luo interrupted, "It would be bad if we disturbed everyone here and a stampede occurred. If there is anything, you can go to the government office or beat the petition drum to report to me."

"Young man, take them all."

At this point, he bowed to everyone and said, "Please make way, uncles, brothers, aunts, and sisters-in-law. I need to go to the palace to inform my maternal grandfather, the Emperor Emeritus, about the relocation of the grave last night. Thank you all for your help."

Oh, you're too kind!
Although some people were unaware of Princess Baofeng's story, they couldn't refuse to give face to the emperor's grandson who was being so polite to them, so they quickly made way for her.

"Thank you! Thank you!!!"

The carriage passed by the Cheng family's large cart and sped into the city.

This infuriated the entire Cheng family, young and old, to the point of wanting to vomit blood.

We shouldn't have let Cheng Luo's marriage with the Jia family happen in the first place!

Even if the Emperor Emeritus bestows a marriage upon them, it's difficult for them to handle. They should at least do something to alienate the Jia family from Cheng Luo.

"Let's go! I'm going to sue him for being unfilial! I'll sue him for being unfilial!"

Old Mrs. Cheng's voice was unusually hoarse.

She screamed and cursed all night, and the fact that she can still make a sound for a while means her voice is actually quite strong.

"Walk……!"

With a wave of his hand, Chief Cheng started the truck quickly.

They had walked quite a distance, and there were still many people at the city gate asking each other about Princess Baofeng.

This unbelievable tragedy once shocked the Great Zhao Dynasty. When they heard that some people didn't know about it, many old men and women raised their voices in protest.

In no time, from Xibianmen all the way to Shuntian Prefecture, the large and small shops selling porridge were booming. Their porridge and soy milk were selling out very quickly.

The Cheng family's cart and horse-drawn carriage stopped several times along the way, one for eating and the other two for relieving themselves.

Between eating and defecating, my spirits have been dampened considerably.

Chief Cheng was very troubled.

But he had been shouting all night, and his throat was so dry it was about to bleed. He was afraid that if he didn't drink some soy milk, he wouldn't be able to explain things clearly even if he went to Shuntian Prefecture.

Filled with frustration, and amidst the pointing and whispering of onlookers, they finally arrived at Shuntian Prefecture, where Lin Zhixiao and Xing'er were already waiting.

However, neither the masters nor the guards of the Jia family were seen.

……

Relocating graves?!
Early in the morning, before the Emperor Emeritus had even begun his daily health regimen, he was startled by this news, his brow twitching in disbelief. He stepped out of his bedchamber and looked at his kneeling grandson, Cheng Luo, finding it utterly absurd.

"You moved your mother's grave?"

The old man's heart was pounding faster than usual.

"Yes!"

"Nonsense!"

The retired emperor clutched his chest and angrily rebuked his grandson, "What day was yesterday? How could you just move a grave like that?"

If the daughter's grave is moved improperly, it could affect him!

When it comes to himself...

The retired emperor could no longer remain calm.

Yesterday was a good day.

Cheng Luo hurriedly said, "It is auspicious for weddings, praying for blessings, cleaning, breaking ground, planting, setting up beds, consecrating, breaking ground, relocating graves, and praying for children."

The Emperor Emeritus: "..."

He calmly did some calculations in his sleeve, and sure enough, it was true.

"How could the Cheng family... possibly agree to this?"

The retired emperor gave Dai Quan a look, signaling him to quickly go to the Imperial Observatory to carefully check the feng shui of the auspicious site and the auspicious date and time, while also asking Cheng Luo, "Did you use force?"

The grandson had threatened to kill himself to find a new burial site for his daughter, but the Cheng family vehemently disagreed. In the end, the emperor had to send a royal physician to forcibly administer medicine to save the child's life.

How could we possibly agree to that now?

"Grandfather~~"

Last night, his uncles and brothers-in-law were all teaching him how to cry to the Emperor Emeritus.

Especially Jia Zhen, the eldest brother-in-law of the Ningguo Mansion, had cried with his maternal grandfather and was experienced.

Although Cheng Luo cried for a long time when the grave was being moved, there was no shortage of tea in the carriage, so her tears never dried up.

As his tears streamed down his face, he kowtowed heavily to the Emperor Emeritus. "Your grandson has no choice. My mother is buried in the Cheng family ancestral graveyard. She will definitely be bullied by that man and his concubine. How could the ancestors and clansmen of the Cheng family help an outsider like her?"

I've dreamt about it many times; my mother is being bullied by them.

Cheng Luo's voice was hoarse, "Because of this, I've always wanted to steal my mother away."

The Emperor Emeritus: "..."

He was filled with anger, hatred, and a desire to kill.

However, the old man was deeply moved by his grandson's filial piety.

Living in the royal family, the children's filial piety was basically masked by a desire for power.

Such purity... is practically nonexistent.

"I had already consulted the Director of the Imperial Observatory about Mother's auspicious burial site. Yesterday was my wedding day..."

He recounted his conversation with his mother and his dream at her grave, saying, "...I know that you and your uncle have to consider the dignity of the royal family, educate the people, and not use your power to oppress others, so I went to ask the Jia family for help."

what?
The Emperor Emeritus felt relieved upon hearing that the auspicious burial site in Baofeng had already been inspected, but now, upon hearing about the Jia family…

He beckoned to the eunuch, and soon a chair was brought over.

The old man sat down calmly and said, "Does the Jia family just let you run wild?"

"I initially disagreed, but my grandson started crying loudly."

The Emperor Emeritus: "..."

He didn't know what to say about the child.

Cheng Luo also seemed embarrassed, "Grandson must thank his maternal grandfather for arranging a good marriage for him. Yuan Chun... Yuan Chun was softened by my crying, so she asked Aunt Shen of Ningguo Mansion. Aunt Shen asked me about the auspicious location, auspicious day, and auspicious time, and then she made up her mind and asked my uncle Jia She and my brother-in-law Jia Zhen to help."

Good guy!
The retired emperor didn't know whether to be angry or amused.

He was laughing because the auspicious date and time were perfect, and his daughter had broken away from the Cheng family and wouldn't affect him. What angered him was that the Jia family was spoiling their child too much.

However, this time it was his grandson who was spoiled, so the anger... well, it dissipated with a gust of wind.

"No fight broke out?"

He asked his grandson with a cold expression.

"beated."

Cheng Luo wiped away her tears. "My uncle and brother-in-law were forced to act. They were afraid that the Cheng family would obstruct the relocation of the grave, miss the auspicious time, and disturb my mother's spirit. That's why they threw all the obstacles and troublemakers aside."

"Hmm~"

The Emperor Emeritus nodded. "Are you injured?"

"Yes! Many members of the Cheng family were injured."

"I am asking about your Jia family."

Cheng Luo felt relieved, her voice becoming even hoarser, "During the argument and shoving, my uncle twisted his back, and Brother Zhen injured his leg. Several guards and servants were also injured."

He didn't dare mention Jia Lian and Jia Zhu.

They both had things to do.

"Where are they now?"

"They...they are all waiting outside the palace."

Cheng Luo looked at his maternal grandfather with trepidation.

"They're all injured, what's the point of waiting?" The Emperor Emeritus said casually, "Someone, summon a few imperial physicians to go to the Jia family and take them some medicine. Also..."

The old man looked at Cheng Luo and said, "Issue the decree that all those who participated in the relocation of the graves shall be rewarded with a pair of 'Abundant Good Fortune' silver ingots and a jar of imperial wine."

It wouldn't be right for him, as the father, not to show any appreciation for the help others helped him move his daughter's grave.

"Once people have finished their work, they'll see which family's banquet is the best, and you can order a few tables over there."

what?
"Yes!"

Cheng Luo cried again, "Grandfather, thank you so much, Grandfather!"

"Get up!"

The Emperor Emeritus sighed and gestured for the eunuch to pull him up. "Stop crying. If you keep crying, you'll ruin your voice."

"Grandson~"

As Cheng Luo rose with the help of the eunuch, he sniffed, "This is the last time I'm crying, and this is a joyful cry."

He looked at his grandfather, who held the power of life and death in his hands, and a rare hint of filial piety rose in his eyes. "Mother will be happy to know this."

"..."

The old man waved his hand, "Haven't had breakfast yet? Go wash your face and come eat with me!"

Although his plans for health preservation were interrupted, Baofeng's father was still happy that the grave was moved.

The Jia family...

Among the many noble families who helped found the country, the Jia family had many shortcomings, but compared to other families, they were more sentimental and kinder.

The retired emperor stood up, his hands behind his back, and thought of the Jia family father and son who had once protected him.

Thinking of the Jia family father and son, his glorious past naturally came to mind.

This is something I can't bear to think about; the more I think about it, the more excited I get.

The old man couldn't help but walk into the side hall where a huge map was displayed, to see the places his father had conquered, the places he himself had conquered, and then... the places that had been lost. (End of Chapter)